Woodland Management & Stewardship - March 2027

Two days in the woods for new owners, land stewards, and the happily curious

So you've got a wood. Or you're dreaming of one. Or you're standing in the middle of yours right now, gloriously baffled, wondering where on earth to begin. Or you are working a conservation organisation and want to know what to do with woodland.

Good news: woods don't come with instructions — but we do.

For three years this has been our flagship course, and we still love every minute of sharing it. Over two unhurried days you'll get your hands dirty and your questions answered: the practical craft of looking after woodland, the science of what's living in it, and the not-so-scary business of plans, funding and legislation. Part classroom, mostly outdoors, always over a good cup of tea.

Meet your guides

Pete Bradshaw — A true veteran of the woods, Pete cut his teeth at the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and now works in landscaping. If it grows, falls, or needs coaxing back to life, Pete has seen it before — and knows exactly what to do about it. He’s experienced in woodland management plans, and all styles of management

Clair Cartwright — A brilliant young ecologist who reads a woodland the way the rest of us read a road sign. She'll show you the biodiversity hiding in plain sight and how to help it thrive.

Joy Lo Dico — Historian of woodlands and, through Voltaire's Wood, a hands-on guide to the practical economics of small woods and woodland projects. Where your trees came from, and how to make your wood pay its way — Joy connects the two.

Jeremy Evans — Give Jeremy a veteran tree and stand back. Jeremy works in outreach for the Woodland Trust. His energetic talk on the old giants — and why the whole ecosystem leans on them — is a course highlight every single time.

What you'll learn

• How to read a woodland — and what it's telling you
• Soil classification and identification
• Planning the future of your wood
• Boosting biodiversity through ride management and coppicing
• Caring for veteran trees
• Habitat mapping, monitoring and grant frameworks
• Countryside Stewardship — an introduction to applying for funding
• Hands-on demonstrations of tree felling, extraction and processing
• Woodland management for biodiversity targets and conservation
• The real costs — and real income — of running a wood

Geared to your level

We can gear this to your level: a practical introduction for newcomers, and a professional level for those working in nature-led organisations who want to deepen their knowledge. We'll be in touch beforehand to find your best fit and tailor the days to you — just tell us what you're after.

Timings

Friday 12th March
Arrive by 9.30am
Finish by 4.30pm

Saturday 13th March
Arrive by 9.30am
Finish by 3pm

What's included

• Tuition, handouts and guided fieldwork
• Tea, coffee & biscuits throughout (essential kit)
• Optional camping in the woods (free) or nearby B&Bs (at your own cost)

Who it's for

Small woodland owners, people thinking of buying woodland, countryside workers and land managers. No experience needed — just bring boots, weatherproofs and curiosity.

A little history

We've run this course since 2023 and it's grown into our proudest offering. We're an accredited training provider for the Forestry Commission, and the course featured in the Forestry & Arb Training Fund (now closed). Alongside our regular tutors we've welcomed guest speakers over the years — coppicers from Westonbirt, "leaky dam" experts, and thinkers on people and the woods.

"An informative and inspiring couple of days. I thought I knew a lot through many years in nature conservation — and this gave me a whole new perspective."
— Carter, 2024